Portable placer mining apparatus

ABSTRACT

A placer mining apparatus is provided and includes a sluice box having riffle bars therein and a water and gravel inlet at one end provided with an adjustable control gate. The other end of the sluice box includes pressurized water inlet nozzles for creating back pressure to the flow of water and gravel entering through the inlet and the end of the sluice box into which the inlet opens is also provided with a removable cover plate for which a downwardly opening hopper box may be substituted. Also, a floatable motor driven pump is provided and includes an outlet connected to the inlet of the sluice box and an inlet having a flexible hose secured thereto at one end, the other inlet end of the hose being provided with a suction bit. There is also provided an upstanding container having an upper inlet to which the outlet of the motorized pump may be connected in lieu of the inlet for the sluice box and the container includes a grizzly screen mounted transversely therein below the inlet of the container.

United States Patent 1 1 Good Oct. 7, 1975 1 PORTABLE PLACER MINING APPARATUS Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Ralph J. Hill Attorney, Agent, or Fz'rmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B, Jacobson l ABSTRACT A placer mining apparatus is provided and includes a sluice box having rifl'le bars therein and a water and gravel inlet at one end provided with an adjustable control gate. The other end of the sluice box includes pressurized water inlet nozzles for creating back pressure to the flow of water and gravel entering through the inlet and the end of the sluice box into which the inlet opens is also provided with a removable cover plate for which a downwardly opening hopper box may be substituted, Also, a floatable motor driven pump is provided and includes an outlet connected to the inlet of the sluice box and an inlet having a flexible hose secured thereto at one end, the other inlet end of the hose being provided with a suction bit, There is also provided an upstanding container having an upper inlet to which the outlet of the motorized pump may be connected in lieu of the inlet for the sluice box and the container includes a grizzly screen mounted transversely therein below the inlet of the container.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures in 1m Illllr'l 1117 7 Sheet 1 of3 US. Patent Oct. 7,1975

U.S. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,910,837

Fig.2

I [11111711111111IIIJIIIIIIII PORTABLE PLACER MINING APPARATUS The portable placer mining apparatus of the instant invention has been designed to provide equipment which may be readily utilized for various types of placer mining operations. The apparatus includes several components which may be readily packed to remote locations and which may be handled, if necessary, by one man.

The main object of this invention is to provide a placer mining apparatus including various components which may be utilized in different combinations for carrying out different placer mining operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a placer mining apparatus including a plurality of components which are each capable of being packed to remote locations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a porta ble placer mining apparatus which may be utilized in placer mining for various materials including gem stones and heavier metal ores.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a portable placer mining apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating the various individual components of the placer mining apparatus, which components include a floating motorized pump, a sluice box with a removable cover and a hopper box for use as a substitute for the sluice box cover as well as an upstanding container having an upper inlet and a lower transverse grizzly screen disposed therein;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the sluice box with the closure cover thereof removed and the hopper box secured in place of the closure cover;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the motorized floating pump unit;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the upright container;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the longitudinal center of the suction nozzle;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the floating motorized pump unit with the inlet nozzle thereof removed; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable flow gate utilized to control the flow of water through the inlet for the sluice box.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the portable placer mining apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a sluice box referred to in general by the reference numeral I0, a floating motorized pump assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 12, a hopper box assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 and an upstanding container referred to in general by the reference numeral 16. With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the sluice box includes a pair of opposite end walls 18 and 20 as well as a pair of opposite side walls 22. The lower marginal edge portions of the end walls 18 and 20 and the side walls 22 are interconnected by means of a bottom wall 24 having a central depending outlet neck 26 closed by means of a removable cap 28 threadedly engaged with the exterior of the lower end of the outlet neck 26. The top of the sluice box 10 includes a top wall 30 having an opening 32 in one end thereof. Also, the end wall 20 includes a pair of outlet openings 34 spaced above the bottom wall 24 and the end wall 18 includes an inlet neck 36 opening therethrough above the bottom wall 24. Each opening 34 is provided with a removable closure therefor.

A slotted flow controlling gate 38 is provided and a pair of carriage bolts 40 are secured through the slots 42 formed in the gate 38 and the end wall 18 above the inlet 36 and are utilized to releasably secure the flow control gate 38 in adjusted position. Also, the interior of the sluice box 10 includes an angled baffle plate 44 which extends between the side walls 22 and downwardly from the top wall 30 beneath the opening 32 and toward the inlet 36.

An open top hopper box referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 is provided and includes periph erally extending lower marginal mounting flanges 48 which are secured to the top wall 30 by means of bolts 50 about the opening 32 in which the open lower end of the hopper box 14 is seatingly received.

The inlet 36 includes a liquid by-pass neck 52 opening outwardly of the inlet neck 36 on the exterior of the sluice box and a flexible hose 54 has its inlet end secured to the outlet end of the neck 52 and its outlet end releasably supportable from a support ring 56 carried by the upper end of the support bracket 58 secured to the hopper box I4.

A generally U-shaped pressure manifold 60 is horizontally disposed and embraces the end of the sluice box 10 remote from the inlet neck 36. Longitudinally spaced portions of the pressure manifold include nozzle outlets 62 which open through the end wall 34 and adjacent portions of the side walls 22 into the lower portion of the interior for the sluice box 10. Also, the top wall 30 of the sluice box I0 includes a small diameter opening 64 in vertical registry with an upwardly opening blind bore 66 formed in a fitting 68 secured to the center of the cap 28 and a support rod 70 is slidably and rotatably received through the opening 64 and has its lower end slidably and rotatably received in the blind bore 66. A lower portion of the support rod 70 includes an annular mounting plate 72 through which the rod 70 extends and the undersurface of the outer periphery of the mounting plate 72 is provided with an annular seal member 74 engaged with the upper surface of the bottom wall 24 about the upper end of the outlet neck 26. The mounting plate 72 includes generally radially outwardly extending riffle bars 76 which closely overlie but are spaced from the bottom wall 24.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 4 of the drawings, it may be seen that the floating motor driven pump assembly 12 includes an annular inflated float member 80 on which there is supported a circular mounting plate 82 having a central opening 84 formed therethrough. A gasoline motor 86 including a vertical output shaft 88 is mounted on the plate 82 and the upper end of the output shaft 88 includes a pulley 90 horizontally aligned with a three groove pulley 92 carried by the upstanding rotary input shaft 94 of a high pressure pump 96 including an inlet 98 and an outlet 100.

The three groove pulley is vertically adjustable on the shaft 94 and accordingly, each of the grooves 102, 104 and 106 may be aligned with the pulley 90. In FIG. 4 of the drawings the groove 106 is in line with the pulley 90 and an endless flexible belt 108 drivingly connects the pulley 90 to the pulley 92. The lower end of the out put shaft 88 extends downwardly through the opening or bore 84 and has an impeller 110 of a larger capacity pump 112 mounted thereon. The pump 112 includes a rotatable inlet neck 114 and an outlet neck 116 and the pump 112 is supported from the plate or panel 82 by means of a plurality of depending supports 118 carried by the plate 82. Also, the inlet neck 114 includes an opening 120 formed therein provided with a swingable closure 122 which may be opened so as to prime the pump 112 which is disposed below the level of water on which the annular float 80 is disposed and restore suction.

The inlet 98 of the pump 96 extends downwardly into the water illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings and the outlet 100 of the pump 96 is connected by means of a flexible hose 124 to the inlet fitting 126 of the pressure manifold 60. Also, a flexible hose 128 connects the outlet l16 of the pump 112 to the inlet 36 of the sluice box 10.

The upstanding container 16 includes an inlet neck 130 opening through an upper side wall portion thereof to which the outlet neck of the flexible hose 128 may be connected in lieu of the inlet 36 of the sluice box 10. In addition, the interior of the container 16 includes a pair of vertically spaced grizzly screens 132 and 134 provided with support legs 136 and 138, respectively. Still further, the side wall of the container 16 remote from the inlet neck 130 is provided with a readily removable abutment plate 140 whose upper end is bent outwardly and downwardly as at 142 for ready support from the upper marginal edge portion of the container 16.

A flexible inlet hose 146 is provided and the outlet end of the hose 146 is connected to the inlet 114. The inlet end of the hose 146 is connected to the outlet end 148 of a vacuum nozzle 149 whose inlet end is somewhat diametrically enlarged as at 150 and includes a pair of internal longitudinally reciprocal and spring retracted rock ejection rods 152, a pair of opposite side inlet openings 154 being formed in the inlet end of the vacuum nozzle to slidingly received the rods 152.

in operation, when it is desired to draw pebbles and silt from the bottom of a stream bed the floating motorized pump assembly 12 is floated on the stream and the suction nozzle is utilized to draw the pebbles and silt from the bottom of the stream upon operation of the motor 86. The water, pebbles and silt drawn from the bottom of the stream are discharged from the pump 112 through the holes 128 and into the sluice box through the inlet 36. At the same time. the discharge from the pump 96 is conveyed to the pressure manifold 60 through the hose 124 and jets of water are discharged from the nozzles 62 toward the end of the sluice box 10 into which the discharge from the pump 112 is delivered. If a person is mining for gemstones, the groove 106 of the pulley 92 is aligned with the pulley 90. However, if heavier materials are being mined either the groove 102 or the groove 104 is aligned with the pulley so that the discharge of water from the nozzles 62 will be less and there will be less resistance to the ingress of water through the inlet 36.

In addition, the discharge from the hose 128 may be directed to the inlet neck of the container 16 so that heavier stones and pebbles may be caught by the grizzly screens 132 and 134. Also, it is to be understood that the flow gate 38 will not be used when the cover plate illustrated in FIG. 1 is used in lieu of the hopper box 14. However, when the cover 160 is removed and the hopper box 14 is mounted on the top wall 30 in lieu of the cover 160, the flow control gate 38 is used.

Of course, the rods 152 may be actuated to dislodge any large rocks that become wedged in the openings 154 and it is to be noted that the swingable closure 122 for the opening 120 may be temporarily swung to the open position whenever it is necessary to restore vac uum.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable placer mining apparatus including a sluice box having a generally flat bottom and upstanding peripheral walls, an inlet for water under pressure opening through one upstanding wall of the box toward the remote marginal portion of the box, said remote marginal portion including a water outlet formed in the corresponding upstanding wall elevated above the bottom wall of the box, generally horizontal and radially arranged riffle rods spaced about and extending outward from a central zone of said box intermediate said inlet and outlet and spaced slightly above said bottom wall and, a plurality of water jet outlets spaced about the periphery of said remote marginal portion of said box, said water jet outlets being disposed to direct generally horizontal jets of water therefrom inwardly at an elevation above said rods and towards a central area of said box disposed to the side of said central zone toward said remote marginal portion.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a center support for said riffle rods supported within said box for vertical shifting therein.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bottom wall includes a removably closable outlet opening therein beneath said central zone.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a central support for said riffle rods supported within said box for vertical shifting therein. 

1. A PORTABLE PLACER MINING APPARATUS INCLUDING A SLUICE BOX HAVING A GENERALLY FLAT BOTTOM AND UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALLS, AN INLET FOR WATER UNDER PRESSURE OPENING THROUGH ONE UPSTANDING WALL OF THE BOX TOWARD THE REMOTE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE BOX, SAID REMOTE MARGINAL PORTION INCLUDING A WATER OUTLET FORMED IN THE CORRESPONDING UPSTANDING WALL ELEVATED ABOVE THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE BOX, GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AND RADIALLY ARRANGED RIFFLE RODS SPACED ABOUT AND EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM A CENTRAL ZONE OF SAID BOX INTERMEDIATE SAID INLET AND OUTLET AND SPACED SLIGHTLY ABOVE SAID BOTTOM WALL AND, A PLURALITY OF WATER JET OUTLETS SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID REMOTE MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID BOX, SAID WATER JET OUTLETS BEING DISPOSED TO DIRECT GENERALLY HORIZONTAL JETS OF WATER THEREFROM INWARDLY AT AN ELEVATION ABOVE SAID RODS AND TOWARDS A CENTRAL AREA OF SAID BOX DISPOSED TO THE SIDE OF SAID CENTRAL ZONE TOWARD SAID REMOTE MARGINAL PORTION.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including a center support for said riffle rods supported within said box for vertical shifting therein.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bottom wall includes a removably closable outlet opening therein beneath said central zone.
 4. The combination of claim 3 including a central support for said riffle rods supported within said box for vertical shifting therein. 